Industrial truck attachment



8 3, 9 H. A. STEVENSON 2,517,938

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK ATTACHMENT 7 Filed July 24, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. HERBERT A.5TEVENSON.

Aug. 8, 1950 H. A. STEVENSON 2,517, 3

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK ATTACHMENT Filed July 24, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

By {in 6.0m

HERBERT A.STEVEN$ON.

- Aug. 8, 1950 H. A. STEVENSON ,5 7,93

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK ATTACK-WENT Filed July 24, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 JM77724, INVENTOR.

HERBERT A.STEVEN$ON. BY $0.0m

Aug. 8,- 1950 H. A. STEVENSON 2,517,938

7 INDUSTRIAL mucx ATTACHMENT Filed July 24, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY'91. 5pm

V W I Aug. 8, 1950 H. A. STEVENSON INDUSTRIAL TRUCK ATTACHMENT 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 24 1946 FIG-14.

INVEN TOR.

HERBERT STEVENSON.

Aug. 8, 1950 H. A. STEVENSON 7,938

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK ATTACHMENT Filed July 24, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VENTOR.

HERBERT A. STEVENSON Patented Aug. 8, 1 950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEINDUSTRIAL TRUCK ATTACHMENT Herbert A. Stevenson, Detroit, Mich.

Application July 24, 1946, Serial No. 685,827

18 Claims. (01. 214-413) This invention relates to an industrial truckfor transporting loads, more particularly tothe carrier for the loads.In trucks of this type, as

heretofore employed and according to my knowledge, it has been customaryto mount the load on skids or pallets so that the load carrier could beprojected below the latter and then elevated. The skid or pallet withthe load thereon was'then transported to the desired location, whereuponthe carrier was lowered until the skid or pallet engaged the flooring orother surface, following which the truck was backed away. Aside from thecost of skids or pallets, in addition to that of the truck, in thesystem above referred to, this equipment required undue storage spacewhen not in use, as well as waste of power in transporting the skids orpallets to and from their storage space. I have found that manydifferent kinds of loads (for example, boxes, bales, cartons and bags ofbulk materials) can be transported from place to place without theemployment of skids or pallets; also, in certain conditions the use ofskids or pallets is not only unnecessary but highly objectionable, forexample, in loading freight cars, as such equipment would take upavailable space as well as increase the freight charges.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved industrial truckhaving a load carrier and means on the carrier for discharging orejecting the load therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide for an industrial truck,an improved load carrier provided with means for discharging or ejectingloads therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide for an industrial truck animproved load carrier provided with a movable member arranged to engagewith and be held against movement by the flooring, upon lowering of thecarrier, so that the member forms an ejector to hold the load againstmovement with the carrier during withdrawal or backing of the truck.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment for the loadcarrier of a truck capable of sliding movement thereon to efiect thedischarge of a load from the carrier during backing of the truck.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart to which my invention relates from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of an industrial truck (shown somewhat diagrammatically)having a load carrier embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is aplan view.

- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4, enlarged.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, showing the load carrier inlowered position.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of parts shown in Fig. 5, as indicated bythe line 1 'l.

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary elevational views illustrating theoperations of discharging a load from the carrier.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 11 showing a modifiedform of construction.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line I l-l I of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11, but showing the operation ofdischarging a load Fig. 13 is a fragmentary section on the lin iii-l3 ofFig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side elevation of parts shown in Figs. 10, 11,12 and 13, enlarged.

Fig. 15 is a view simi ar to Fig. 5, but showing a different form ofconstruction.

Fig. 16 is a section on the line |6l 6 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of parts shown in Figs. 15 and16.

In the drawings, l indicates a chassis or frame mounted on front wheels2 and rear wheels 3, and 4 indicates as an entirety a raising andlowering mechanism, having a load carrier indicated as an entirety at 5,later referred to. By preference, the wheels 2 are power driven and theWheels-3 are steerable by operation of a wheel or other device 30. Theload carrier 5 is fixed to an elevating member 6 which slides in guidesI and the latter are slidably mounted in channel members 8. The members8 are pivotally mounted on the frame I, as shown at 8a, wherebythechannel members 8 and parts carried thereby may be tilted inwardly asshown in dotted lines (Figs. 1 and 8). The construction of the frame,mountings, driving and steering means for the wheels 2, 3, and the meansfor operating the elevating member 6, guides l and members 8 may be ofany suitable construction and arrangement, but by preference and forillustrative purposes they are similar to like parts shown in theco-pending application of Paul E. Hawkins, Ser. No. 557,172, filedOctober 4, 1944, now Letters Patent No. 2,471,429, dated May 31, 1949.

The load carrier 5 preferably consists of a plurality of spaced forks 9having upright arms la which are connected together by bars ll. Theinner r. opposed sides of the bars ll are longitudinally recessed toprovide flanges II, which removably engage complementary shaped sidewalls provided on cross members l2, the latter being fixed to andforming part of the elevating member 8. The carrier is positioned on theelevating member 6 by engaging the bars II with the cross members l2 andalining the complementary walls and sliding the bars Ill endwiserelative to the cross members to position the carrier 5 in front of andwith its lateral sides equal distances from the channel members 8.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, Ii indicates as anentirety means mounted on the carrier 5 for ejecting or discharging aload A therefrom. The load A is shown as consisting of a box or carton(two or more thereof may be disposed in stacked relation on thecarrier), but it may consist of a bale or bag of bulk material -(two ormore thereof may be disposed in stacked relation on the carrier) or aload of a different shape. The ejecting or discharging means comprisethe following: lia indicates an upright plate which extends transverselyof the load carrier and operates to eject the load in the manner laterset forth. The ejector lia. is slidably mounted on the carrier, forrelative movement thereon and is provided with one or more floor orsurface engaging members lib disposed below the carrier 5 and operablein the manner later set forth. Where the carrier 5 consists of spacedforks, the

guide means for the ejector lia consist of one or more shoes l4preferably of inverted U-shape in cross section, each slidably fittingover one of the forks 9, so that its top wall lla may slidably engagethe top surface of the adjacent fork and its side walls lib may engagethe sides of the fork to guide the shoe ll thereon. By preference twoshoes ll are provided between the ejector lid and certain of the forks9. Each shoe ll extends outwardly from the arm in of the adjacent fork9, so that when the truck is operated to eifect engagement or pick-up ofa load, the inner end of the latter will rest on the shoe I. In thispreferred arrangement of the shoes I, the rear ends thereof are suitablywelded to the ejector lid and the opposite sides llb of each shoe areconnected to the elector l3a. by gussets l5. Each shoe I4 is providedwith a floor engaging member lib disposed below the adjacent fork i andsuitably connected (preferably welded) at its opposite ends to the endedges of the side walls lib, whereby these members may engage theflooror other surface 13, as later set forth. The vertical height of theside walls lib of each shoe II is greater than the thickness of theadjacent fork to permit the forks 9 to be slightly raised to relievepressure on the floor engaging members lib, whereby theforks may bereadily withdrawn, as later set forth. Each member lib consists of aplate preferably substantially equal in length to that of the adjacentshoe I4 and provided on its lower face with friction increasing means,preferably consisting of one or more transversely disposed dependingribs lib each of which may terminate in a relatively sharp edge toincrease the friction between the member and fiooringB, as will later beapparent. As later set forth, in moving the carrier 5 downwardly intoload discharging position, the floor engaging members lib engage theflooring B under pressure so that the relatively sharp terminating edgesbite into the surface of the flooring B to insure a fixed relationtherewith. As later set forth, as the floor engaging members lib operateto prevent movement of the ejector lia during withdrawal or backingmovement of the truck, the inner face of each rib lib is disposedvertically and its opposite face is inclined upwardly and outwardly.Inithe form of construction shown, the entire lower face of the plate isprovided with ribs lib in side-by-side parallel relation.

It indicates sockets suitably fixed to the upper ends of certain or *allof the arms in, each removably supporting an extension member lid, thesemembers being provided where the height of the loads to be transportedis greater than the length of the arms 9a, so that when the channelmembers i are tilted rearwardly, and the load consists of stackedbodies, the upper bodyor bodies will not slide or gravitate-off thelower bodies.

Operation-The loads to be transported may be manually or otherwisepositioned on the carrier 5, but are preferably assembled on stringers(not shown), so that the truck can be kept i service transporting oneload while other loads are being assembled. With the elector lid in theposition shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5; the truck isoperated toproject the forks [and shoes ll below an assembled load and then thecarrier is elevated or tilted or it may be elevated and tilted and thetruck driven to the load discharge location. With the load on thecarrier, its inner end rests on the shoes II and its outer end or outerportion rests on the forks i. It will beunderstood that the tilting ofthe carrier is not an essential operation, but may beutilized tofacilitate driving of the truck at maximum speed when its carrier isloaded without danger of the load shifting or falling off the carrier.At the load discharge location the channel members i .are moved intoupright position (if previously tilted) and the load carrier 5 is thenlowered until the floor engaging members lib engage the flooring B underpressure and eflect a bite engagement therewith, as shown in Fig. 4.Next, the raising and lowering mechanism 4 is operated to raise thecarrier 5 a slight distance to disengage the forks from the members libto eliminate friction between the upper faces of the floor engagingmembers lib and the adjacent'forks I during withdrawal of the truck.Next, the truck is backed a predetermined distance to the position shownin Fig. 8. As the shoes ll are frictionally secured to the flooring Bandhold the ejector lia stationary, such withdrawal movement of the truckserves to move or slide the forks 9 relative to the ejector lid .and asthe latter is disposed on the inner side of the load, it preventsmovement of the load with the forks; that is, the load rides the forksduring this movement, the effect being to shift or slide the loadrelative to the forks until its outer end portion over-hangs the outerends of the forks i and the latter recede to a position inwardly of thecenter of gravity of the load, whereby its outer end portion cangravitate into engagement with the flooring B, as shown in Fig. 8.During this withdrawal movement of the truck, the weight of the innerend of the load on the shoes ll will prevent or tend to preventdisengagement of the floor engaging members lib from the flooring B.

Limiting means, indicated as an entirety at H, are provided to connectthe shoes I to the carrier 5 when the truck has been withdrawn atpredetermined distance, that is, far enough-to 8 position the outer endsof the forks 9 inwardly of the center of gravity of the load A to permitits outer end portion to gravitate, as shown in Fig. 8, and thus preventdisengagement of the ejector i3a from the adjacent forks. Next, thechannel members are tilted inwardly or raised a slight distance, whichoperation moves the forks 9 upwardly (see dotted lines in Fig. 8) andthe forks 9 carrying the shoes I in turn engage and raise the latter torelease the members i3b from the flooring B. Next, the truck is againoperated to withdraw it to the position shown in Fig. 9, therebydisengaging the forks from the load A, whereby the latter is dischargedfrom the carrier. The ejector l3b is then slid inwardly to its normalposition ready to eject a succeeding load.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 9, thelimiting means consists of a pin Ila removably mounted in an openingIla. formed in each fork 9 on which one of the shoes I is mounted; thepin projects laterally from the adjacent fork so as to be in position toengage the shoe in the backing or receding movement of the forks, sothat when the truck is backed to discharge the load, as shown in Fig. 9,the ejector l3a will move therewith. By preference, pins [1a, in alinedrelation, are mounted on opposite sides of those forks 9 on which theshoes H are mounted; also, these forks may be formed with sets ofopenings l'la', whereby the pins lla may be positioned at differentdistances from the outer ends of the forks 9 dependent upon the lengthof the loads being transported.

Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 illustrate a different form of limitingmeans for connecting the ejector to the carrier 5 upon withdrawalmovement thereof a predertermined distance. These means comprise thefollowing: l8 indicates a drum to which one end of a-cable I9 isconnected. The drum I8 is preferably mounted on the upper bar It!between two forks 9. The cable i9 depends from the drum l8 and is reevedaround' a pulley 29 mounted on an adjacent arm 9a near its lower end,whereby the cable may extend to and be connected in a suitable manner tothe ejector I3a adjacent the lower end of the latter; such connection ispreferably detachable. The drum I9 is provided with a spring 2|, whichnormally tends to rotate the drum in a direction to wind the cable l9thereon, so that slack in the cable is at all times eliminated and whenthe ejector l3a is moved inwardly to its normal position, the cable iswound on the drum. When the ejector is secured to the flooring B and thecarrier is being withdrawn the cable l9 unwinds from the drum. The cableI9 is of predetermined length, so that when the truck is operated towithdraw the carrier from the load far enough to shift its outer endportion beyond the outer end of the carrier, as shown in Fig. 12, thecable l9 will connect the ejector to the carrier 5, so that upon againoperating the carrier to withdraw it from the inner end portion of theload, the cable will pull the ejector along with the carrier. Theeffective length of the cable may be varied by securing the inner endportion thereof to the drum at any point inwardly of its free end. Itwill be obvious that the drum i8 may be of any suitable construction,but for illustrative purposes, the

wall of the drum is provided at one end with a head i8a. The head l8a isprovided with a concentric collar 3b in which is mounted a bushingrotatably fitting a shaft 22. The adjacent end of the shaft 22 isfixedly mounted in a bracket 23, which is bolted to the adjacent bar It.The

opposite end of the shaft 22 is threaded into and fixedly secured to adisk 24, provided integrally with an extension 25 which is bolted to theadjacent bar "I. The periphery of the disk fits into an annular recessl8 formed in the opposite end of the drum wall and forms a bearing forthe adjacent end of the drum. The spring 2| is mounted within the druml8, one end of the spring being fixed to the head Ma and its oppositeend being anchored in the disk 24.

Figs. 15, 16 and 1'! illustrate a further modified form of constructionwherein the depending side walls b of either or both shoes I areprovided on their terminating edges with friction.increasing means.These means are preferably pro vided by cutting away the metal of theedges as shown at 1:. As the vertical height of the side walls isgreater than the thickness of the forks 9, the friction increasing meanswill engage the flooring B upon lowering of the carrier to loaddischarging position.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that the ejectorforms an attachment for the load carrier of the truck and may thereforebe applied to any truck having a raising and lowering mechanism and thatthe guide means for the ejector can be modified to adapt, it to I.carriers of a different construction. It will also be observed thatthis attachment does not prevent the employment of the truck where theloads are supported on skids or pallets so that its range of usefulnessis not impaired.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates many changesin construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of theinvention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. lily disclosures and the description herein arepurely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is: i

1. In a truck, the combination with a frame and propelling meanstherefor, of a raising and lowering mechanism on said frame and providedwith a carrier for loads, a device supported on and extendingtransversely of said carrier and mounted for relative longitudinalmovement thereon, and means on said device extending downwardly belowsaid carrier and arranged to engage the flooring upon lowering of saidcarrier to its load discharging position to secure said device to theflooring, said device being normally disposed rearwardly of the load onsaid carrier and arranged to eject it from the carrier upon withdrawalof the truck.

2. A truck as claimed in claim 1, wherein said floor engaging meansconsist of. a cross member supported by said device in a plane below thecarrier and provided with friction increasing means for engaging theflooring.

3. A truck as claimed in claim- 1 wherein the load carrier consists of aplurality of forks and the ejecting device is provided with a shoeslidably fitting one of said forks.

4. A truck as claimed in claim 1 wherein the load carrier consists of aplurality of forks, the

- ejecting device is provided with an inverted U- ejecting devicethereto upon withdrawal of the truck a predetermined distance.

-6. In a truck, the combination with a frame and propelling meanstherefor, of a raising and lowering mechanism on said frame and providedwith a carrier for loads consisting of a plurality of forks, a devicesupported on said forks for vertical movement therewith and extendingtransversely of said forks and providedwith a shoe slidably engaging oneof said forks for relative longitudinal movement thereon, a membercarried by said shoe and disposed in a plane below said forks forengaging the flooring when said carrier is lowered to its loaddischarging position to secure said device against movement relative tothe flooring, said device being normally disposed rearwardly of the loadon said carrier and arranged to eject it from the carrier uponwithdrawal of the truck, and means on said carrier for connecting theshoe thereto upon withdrawal of the truck a predetermined distance.

lowering of said forks to load discharging podtion, into engagement withthe fl ring under pressure to secure the shoe thereto and preventmovement of said member relative to the flooring,

said member being normally disposed rearwardly' lowering mechanism onsaid frame and providedwith a carrier for raising and lowering loads, anejecting member slidably mounted on said carrier for movementlongitudinally thereof and normally disposed at the inner end of saidcarrier for engagement with the rear side of the load when the latter ispositioned on said carrier, and a device fixedly related to said memberand disposed in a plane below said carrier and arranged to be moved bythe carrier, upon lowering thereof into load discharging position intoengagement '7. In atruck, the combination with a frame and propellingmeans therefor, of a raising and lowering mechanism on said frame andprovided with a carrier for loads consisting of a plurality of forks, adevice supported on said forks and extending transversely thereof andprovided with a shoe slidably engaging one of said forks forlongitudinal movement thereon, a member carried by said shoe anddisposed in a plane below said forks for engaging the flooring when saidcarrier is lowered to its discharging position to secure said device tothe flooring, said device being normally disposed rearwardly of the loadon said forks and arranged to eject it from the carrier uponwithdrawalof the truck, and an element on the fork which is slidablyengaged by said shoe for connecting the shoe thereto upon withdrawal ofthe truck a predetermined distance. a

8. In a truck, the combination with a fram and propelling meanstherefor, of a raising and lowering mechanism on said frame and providedwith a carrier for loads consisting of a plurality of forks, shoessupported on and slidably fitting certain of said forks for movementlongitudinally the flooring, said member being normally disposedrearwardly of the load when the latter --is positioned on said shoes andforks and arranged to eject the load upon withdrawal of the truck.

9. In a truck, the combination with a frame and propelling meanstherefor, of a raising and lowering mechanism on said frame and providedwith a carrier for loads consisting of a plurality of forks, shoessupported on and slidably fitting certain of said forks for movementlongitudinally thereof, an upright member extending ,transversely ofsaid forks, secured to the inner ends with'the flooring under pressureto secure said device to the flooring and member against movementrelative to the flooring, whereby, upon withdrawal of the truck, saidmember engages the load and ejects it from'said carrier.

11. In a truck, the combination ,with a frame and propelling meanstherefor, of a raising and lowering mechanism on said frame and providedwith a carrier for loads, a member supported on said carrier'when thelatter is in an elevated position, said member being slidablelongitudinally of said carrier and movable vertically relative theretowhen said carrier is lowered into load discharging position, amemberextending transversely of said carrier and fixedly related to saidslidable member for movement therewith, and a device fixed to said firstmentioned member and disposed in a plane below said carrier and arrangedto engage the flooring upon lowering of said carrier into dischargingposition to secure said device to the flooring, said last mentionedmember being normally disposed rearwardly of the load on said carrierand arranged to eject it therefrom upon withdrawal of the truck.

12. An attachment for a truck load carrier, which is mounted formovement upwardly and downwardly on the truck, consisting of spacedguide members adapted to be slidably-supported,

on the carrier formovement longitudinally thereof, an upright memberfixed to said guide members and supported-thereby for movement intoengagement witha load when the latter is positioned on the carrier} anda device carried by one of said members and extending to a plane belowthe carrier and arranged to engage the flooring, when the carrier ismoved downwardly into load discharging position, to secure said guidemember to the flooring and prevent movement of said upright memberduring withdrawal of the truck.

13. In a truck, the combination with a frame and propelling meanstherefor, of a raising and lowering mechanism on said frame and providedof said shoes, said shoes and forks being arranged to support a load,one of said shoes being of inverted U-shape the side walls of whichextend to a'plane below the adjacent fork, and a device fixed to theside walls of said U-shape shoe and supported thereby in a plane belowthe adjacent fork and arranged to be moved thereby, upon with a carrierfor loads consisting of a plurality of forks, shoes slidably fittingcertain of said forks and supporting at their inner ends an uprightmember extending transversely of said forks, said shoes and forks beingarranged to support a load, one of said shoes being of inverted U-shapeone side wall of which extends below the adjacent fork and is providedwith friction increasing means arranged to engage the flooring uponlowering of said carrier into load discharging position to secure theshoe thereto and prevent movement of said member relative to the at itsouter end to said device, a drum mounted on said carrier, the inner endof said flexible member being connected to said drum and arranged towind thereon when said device is moved inwardly on said carrier andunwind from said drum during the withdrawal movement of the truck, and aspring normally tending to rotate the drum to wind the flexible memberthereon.

15. In a truck, the combination with a frame and propelling meanstherefor, of a raising and lowering mechanism on said frame and providedwith a carrier for loads, a mechanism mounted for relative longitudinalmovement on said carrier and consisting of a device extending above thecarrier and arranged to be-disposed rearwardly of the load when thelatter is positioned on said carrier and a device connected to saidfirst mentioned device and extending to a plane below the carrier andadapted to engage the flooring, when the carrier is lowered into loaddischarging position, to secure said last mentioned device to theflooring and prevent movement of said mechanism relative to the latterupon withdrawal of the truck, whereby said first mentioned device shiftsthe load outwardly on said carrier.

16. A truck as claimed in claim 15 wherein means are provided on thecarrienfor limiting the outward longitudinal movement of said mech-!anism relative to the carrier upon withdrawal movement of the truck apredetermined distance.

17. In a truck, the combination with a frame and propelling meanstherefor, of a-raising and lowering mechanism on said frame and providedwith a carrier for loads consisting of a plurality of forks, a deviceextending transversely of said forks and provided with a shoe slidablyengaging one of said forks for relative movement thereon 10 and a memberdisposed in a plane below said forks for engaging the flooring when saidcarrier is lowered and secure said device against movement relative tothe flooring, said device being normally disposed rearwardly of the loadon said carrier and arranged to eject it from the carrier uponwithdrawal of the truck, and an element on one of said forks forconnecting the shoe to the carrier upon withdrawal of the truck apredetermined distance.

18. In a truck, the combination with a frame and propelling meanstherefor, of a raising and lowering mechanism on said frame and providedwith a carrier for loads consisting of a plurality of forks, shoesslidably fitting certain of said forks and supporting an upright memberextending transversely of said forks, one of said shoes being ofinverted U-shape one side wall of which extends below the adjacent forkandis provided with friction increasing means arranged to engage theflooring upon lowering of said carrier into load discharging position tosecure the shoe thereto and prevent movement of said member relative tothe flooring. said member being normally disposed rearwardly of the loadwhen the latter is positioned on said forks and arranged to eject theload upon withdrawal of the truck.

HERBERT A. STEVENSON.

,RE'FEnENcEs orrnn The following references are of record in the fileot'this patent: 1

UNITED STATES PATENTS

